Board of Canvassers to consider Davison election recount

DAVISON, Michigan — The Genesee County Board of Canvassers will meet at 9 a.m. December 10 in the Davison City Council chambers to decide if it will recount ballots of four council members ousted in the November 2 election.

Doreen Fulcher, county elections supervisor, said if canvassers approve the petitions the recount will begin immediately. She said it's up to the four-member panel made up of two Democrats and two Republicans to decide if a recount is warranted.

She said notices have been sent to each of the four recalled council members informing them of the meeting.

Mayor Fred (Mac) Fortner and councilmen Jim Hershberger, Matthew Judd and Roger Lutze lost their seats by margins ranging from 17 votes for Fortner to 75 for Hershberger. Each requested the recount on Monday with Fortner and Judd concerned mainly about the fact that in most races more than 100 absentee voters did not cast ballots on the race.

Judd wondered if they were not aware that the races were posted on the back of their ballots. He also said he was not informed that he could have had poll watchers observe the count on election night. Fortner said in some cases on absentee ballots it couldn't be determined if the the voter balloted for or against recall.

"Since it was so close, I think I owe it to the people who voted for me and frankly those who voted against me to hold the recount," Fortner said.